Language & Cognition #1 Exam

Sign Language Breakdown:

  1. Signs & Semiotics:

    • A sign is something that stands for something else. Like a smoke alarm signifying fire.

    • Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, how we use them to communicate.

  2. Types of Signs:

    • Index: Directly points to something, like smoke (index of fire).

    • Icon: Resembles what it represents, like a picture (icon of a dog).

    • Symbol: Connection between sign and meaning is learned/cultural, like a red octagon (symbol for stop).

Language Origins Debate:

  1. Where did language come from? Nobody knows for sure, but here are some ideas:

    • Divine Source: Language was a gift from the gods.

    • Natural Sounds: We mimicked animal calls or sounds in nature (like onomatopoeia).

    • Yo-he-ho Theory: Rhythmic grunts during labor became language.

    • Physical Adaptation: Changes in our vocal tracts allowed complex sounds.

    • Innateness Hypothesis: We're born with a brain wired for language.

Human vs. Non-Human Communication:

  1. What makes human language special?

    • Arbitrary: No inherent link between sound and meaning (e.g., "dog" doesn't bark).

    • Displacement: We can talk about things not present (e.g., dinosaurs).

    • Productivity & Creativity: We can make new words and sentences.

    • Cultural Transmission: Language is learned, not inherited like instincts.

    • Duality/Discreteness: Sounds combine to make words (meaning), words combine to make sentences (more meaning).

Exploring the Language Brain:

  1. Brain & Language:

    • Brain Lesions: Damage to specific brain areas (Broca's & Wernicke's) can cause speech problems.

    • Lateralization: Left hemisphere often handles language, right handles creativity.

    • Speech Errors: Freudian slips ("spoonerisms") reveal underlying thoughts.

    • Brain Metaphors: Our brain processes language like a SPONGE (absorbing information), MACHINE (following rules), or CONDUIT (channeling thoughts).

    • Feral Children: Raised in isolation offer clues to language development.

Learning to Speak:

  1. Language Acquisition Stages:

    • Motherese: High-pitched, slow speech parents use to talk to babies.

    • Babbling: Babies experiment with sounds around 6 months.

    • One-Word Stage: Around 1 year, babies use single words for objects.

    • Two-Word Stage: Combining words ("more juice") around 18 months.

    • Telegraphic Speech: Short, simple sentences ("go park") after 2 years.